Dispenser



lMay11,1937. @AQM'AGUIRE 2,079,744

DISPENSER n Filed Aug. 9, 1955 v z sheets-sneet 1 ama May 11, 1937.; G.A. M AGUIRE 2,079,744

DISPENSER Filed Aug. 9, 1935 2 sheets-sheetl 2 N 171g. N 57 @s 49Patented May 11, 1937 DISPENSER Garnet Adam Maguire, St. John, NewBrunswick,`

l i Canada.

Application August 9, 1935, serialfNo. 35,521

12 Claims.

" AThis invention relates to dispensers and more particularly todispensers for tooth paste, shaving soap, creams and like products.

An object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of this characterwhich, is of simple construction designed to receive loaded cartridgesof the material to be ejected, which maybe inserted and removedwithease. e

A further objectv of the invention is to Aprovide a dispenser `of rigidconstruction which is of attractive `appearance and which vwill alwaysmaintain its shape. e

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a dispenser of thischaracter` from which the material may beejected very readily, thedispenser being designed to be held and operated by` one hand. e'

A still further object of the inventionV is to provide a construction ofattractive appearance, that is non-leaking and is of a sanitarycharacter, all parts being washable.k p n e A still further object of`the 'invention is to provide a construction in which the material eejected may be readily measured in the ejecting operation.' e p A stillfurther object of the invention is to providea construction wherein therefill cartridge and casing co-operate to provide for ejection of thematerial to aA full degree and eliminate `seepage as between the casingandrell.

` With these and other objects in view the invention consistsessentially in an elongated container having a top provided `:with a`closable dispensing opening, a main hollow body forrer ceiving refillcartridges and ejecting means operable from the base of the container,the ejecting member being carried by the refill and being caused to moveupwardly through the rell and container when operated so` `as to ejectthe contents as required ,through` the opening in the top. The operatingmeans for` the ejector is such as to permit operationby one hand with4co-operating means to measure the quantity discharged, as well as meansto prevent rotation of the ejecting mechanism in the wrong direction.

The container and refill vare specially formed so as to t closely and toco-operate generally so as to avoid leakage and seepage'of the ma- 0terlal between the refill and the. container. In addition, the ejectingmember is formed` to cof operate with said refill and container to thissame end to associate with'a the cartridge in such a manner as to avoidrotary movemenaas more fully 'described in the following specication andillustrated in the accompanying drawings which form part of the same. l

Figure' 1 is a longitudinal section taken through the containerillustrating a refill cartridge positioned therein and also illustratingthe mounting of the various parts, including the ejecting mechanism. A

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the top portion ofthecontainer. n.

` Figure 3 isa side elevation of the cap.`

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail ofthe top of the container overv whichthe cap ts, illustrating the cut-outv portion to co-operate with aprojecting pin in the cap. Y n n Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentarysection of that portion of the basev shownin the lower right hand cornerof Figure 1. Figure 6 is an enlarged detail section similar to Figure 5but taken through the base of the container at a different point. e

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section of the base of therefill cartridge. f

Figure 8 is aA section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure?, e l

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective @View of the container carried ina hand illustrating the mannerin which the ejecting mechanism may beoperated by one hand. 1

Figure lOis an enlarged planview ofthe base of the dispenserillustrating the forrn` of the projecting mechanism operating member.

Figure 11 is anenlarged fragmentary section taken through the baseshowing the mounting of the ejecting mechanism and operating meanstherefor. e

Figure 12 is a plan view of the lower end of the container with the baseremoved illustrating the serrations or grooving withinthe end of thecontainer wall. p

Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of the lower end portion` ofthe container illustrating the sei-rations or cuts in the inner wall.

Figure 14 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of a po'rtion of thebase of the container illustrating the construction which co-operateswith` the ejecting operating member for measur` ing the quantitydischarged and Fig. l5` is `a view, of another member that func- `50tions with the ejecting operating member for measuring Athe quantity ofmaterial discharged.

Figure 15de is another view of the ring member shown in Fig. 15.

Referring more particularly to vthe drawings,

extending dispensing channel or Figure 1 is a general illustration inassembly of one form of construction my invention may take, A indicatingthe container as a whole, B the ejecting mechanism as a whole and C theejector operating means. The container is preferably in the form of anelongated casing I0 of any suitable shape, illustrated in the presentapplication as cylindrical. The container may have one end stepped as atI I or curved or otherwise restricted to terminate in the restrictednipple I2 provided with a suitable cap I3. The nipple I2 is preferablyformed with a centrally disposed vertically opening I4 which intersectsan inclined channel I5, the latter opening on the surface of the nippleto discharge the contents of the container when the ejecting mechanism Bis operated. The cap is provided with a main orifice I6 which is rofcorresponding shape to the cross section of the channel I5 and isdesigned to register with this channel when the material in thecontainer is to be dispensed, the cap being formed with an inwardlyprojecting rib or the like I'I which is spun thereon to engage with asuitable annular groove I8 formed around the nipple so that the cap maybe rotated from one position to another, while being rmly held on thenipple against axial movement.

The nipple is preferably cut or Aotherwise formed in one area with arelatively flat and vertically extending surface I9 which provides arecess defined by said `surface and a shoulder 20, into which a pin 2Iprojecting within the interior of the capmay extend, the shoulder 20being preferably formedso as to slope upwardly to a slight extent fromthe point 22 midway between the outer defining edges of the vrecess tothe outer defining edgesso that when the pin 2| is disposed at thecentral point 22 it ls entirely free from engagement with the shoulder20, but when it is moved to position a, the pin will bind on thesurfaces of the shoulder, and likewise when it is moved to position b;Thus in these two positions the cap is held firmly against rotationalmovement and must be dislodged by pressure. In the position a theopening I6 in the cap will register with the channel I5 in the nipple.In position b the opening I6 is moved completely out of registry withthe channel I5 so lthat in use the cap is held firmly in position duringthe ejecting of the paste, with the opening I6 positioned properly, andwhen it is being put away the cap is rotated to position b and theopening I6 moved to a closed position and held there to prevent airpassing into the interior .of the container and thus affect thecontents.

The interior of the container, which is of any desired cross sectionpreferably circular is formed `with smooth walls and the upper end ispreferably curved as at 23, although it may be sloped, or otherwise haveits surface gradually narrowing towards the dispensing openingordischarge channel I4 to direct the material within the containertowards this opening. The inner end of the t'op'of the container isextended as at 24 to project within the container, the channel I4continuing through the'extension 26 to open within the container a shortdistance below'the upper extremity thereof, the extension being bevelledor sloped or otherwise of gradually narrowing character as at 25 tofinally merge into the curved or gradually narrowing endwall 23 ,of thecontainer, in effect following the contour of this gradually narrowingwall and forming aco-operating guide for directing the material towardsthe dispensing opening.

The material is introduced to the container in a cartridge 26 which isconstructed from any suitable material, preferably light transparentmaterial which is substantially rigid, although slightly flexible and ismoisture proof. The cartridge is round at its upper end as at 2'I, orotherwise formed to coincide with `the shape of the upper end 'of thecontainer and it is orifice-d as at 28 to fit over the extension 24 ofthe container. In this respect it is pointed out that the bevelled orsloped portion of the extension is preferably an acute or sharp slope,so that upon removal the cartridge will readily come away from theextension 24, and on the other hand when a new cartridge is inserted, itwill t upon the extension and snugly abut the curved wall of thecontainer. Thus having regard to the extension and the manner in whichthe cartridge fits over it in tight abutment with the curved wall of thecontainer, it is apparent that this will provide means for eliminatingseepage between the con tainer and the cartridge refill.

Each cartridge is designed to carry ejecting means for the material.contained therein, The ejecting means takes the form of a screwthreaded rod 29 upon which is mounted an ejector 30. These parts c an bemade very cheaply of light aluminum for instance, and are designed toform a permanent part of the rell, and to be discarded when all thematerial has been ejected therefrom. The ejector 30 is formed with anupwardlyv curved surface 3l, the central portion of the upper surfacebeing recessed as at 32 to coincide with the extension 24 at the top ofthe container.

Within the recess 32 projects a final ejector 0r discharge member 33which surrounds the rod 23, the discharge member entering the passage I@when the ejector has just about reached its upward extremity, so thatany material in the neighborhoodof the top of theA refill will bedischarged well up into the channel I4'. Consequently, when one refillis removed, the interior of the upper part of the container will beentirely clean with no sticky material therearound to contact with thenext refill inserted, which might tend to hinder the removal of therefill after it had been positioned'within the container for a shorttime.

The lower portion of the ejector may be hollow as at 34 preferably forthe sake of lightness of structure. It will be noted that the ejector 30contacts firmly with the interior wall of the reiill and thus allmaterial above the ejector will be moved upwardly within the refill. Atthe same time contact between the ejector and the refill wall form ameans vto prevent the ejector from turning. Thus, when the rod 29 isrotated the ejector, held againstrotation, will move readily upwardwithin the refill.

The ejector may be made of rubber or other `suitable material, mypreferred construction being of aluminum. Ordinarily rubber or somefiexible material would be used to permit of firm engagement with thewalls of the cartridge, but in view of the fact that the `walls of therefill 26 are slightly iiexible this will permit the use of hardmaterial for the ejector and permit a rather firm engagement as.-between the ejector and refill, even though the rell walls may not beabsolutely true, inasmuch as the slight flexibility -willcompensateforany unevenness. 'I'he lower portion of the refill shell isformed to ac- .commodate the ejecting mechanism in a practlcalmanner.V.i o It will be noted on referring to Figstl. 5 7,

and 8 that I provide projecting shoulders 35 5 within the shell of therefill `upon which a lower portion of the ejecting member 30 will sit asshown in Figure 1. The projectingshoulder `is preferably pressed intothewall of the'rell, that portionof `the wallfalling down from the -shoull`der being sloped as at 36 sothat theejector, once therod is positionedwithinitherelhmay be pushed upwardly into the refill-andit will` rideover the sloped surfaces finally lodging upon the projecting shoulder 35which acts somewhat in l the manner of the barb of a shhook,-prevent`ing the ejector from being moved out of the refi1l;1.again.r 1 i y t i:I formthe lower edgeAof theu refill `with reinforcingmembers 31 spacedabout its periphery, since the bottomportiorxof the refill isfopen` tothe greateststrain, the reinforcing members being formed by an increasedthickness in the width ofuthe wall to provide the `desired amount ofstifening; `At the same timepthese projecting reinforcements form .averyconvenient means for grasping the `lower end-.of t the refill in theinserting and removing operations. `'Io accom-- modate these reinforcingprojections the lower edge of the containerwall maybe notched as at 38(see Fig- 13). i -w .The refill cartridge26` is held within thecontainer by means of the container base 39. This may be made in`any'suitable form being pref- `erablyenga'geable with the container bymeans of the `screw` threading 40. Thebase assists `in t providingclamping means necessary to hold the cartridge firmly in position andalso carries the operating means C for actuatingthe ejecting mechanism.The inner` surface `of thevbase `is informed with an annular groove", ononeside of which is aprojecting annular flange 42-which is interiorlyscrew threadedto engage with the container, and on the other side anannular projection43 extends formed with a `sloped `surface44. i o y`Upon referring to Fig. 1 and Figs. 5 and 6, it will be seen that thelower endo'f the refill cartridge ,26 is positioned between `the slopedsurface 44 of the annularl projection 43 and the interior wall 'of thecontainer so that Vwhen the base is screwed tightly intopositionithesloped surface` will have a'wedging action upon the refillto clamp it very firmly againstthe lower interior wall of the container.i `This action com- 57, bined withy the notches or` serrations 45 (seeparticularly Fig. 13) in-thevlower Vend of the container provides averypositive meansfor clamping the refill cartridger against rotationalmovement.,and-while the reinforcing projections 3,1 on the refill whichengage `within the notches 38 would also have atendencygto preventrotational movement of the refill, thepositive means provided relieveany strain that `otherwise would be applied fon the reinforcing members,which otherwise might be sheared fromthe refill.

The base 39 of the container is centrally oriced as at 46 toreceive` theprojecting bushing41 of the ejector operating means C. This may beprojected through the openingMi` and secured rotatably therewithin byapplying a `small split washer or wire 49 between the intericrwall of'the base and a projectingvshoulder on the bushing 4'i.` On the` outerportionof thebase sur-l rounding fthe orifice 46 the base is providedwith '75 an annular depressed or recessed portion `49 formed with aseries of sloped surfaces 50 which terminate in suitable ratchetshoulders5 I. `These may vary in number, butvthere are-preferably fourequal surfaces 50. i

, The operating member C carrie'sthe split ringlikemember52 (see Fig.`15 particularly) which `for instance is substantially the same as asplit spring washer, one portion of which is bent downwardlyasat 53`substantially at right angles to rthe part at which itis attached.`V On`thefother hand the projection `53 might constitute `aiseparate pieceattached tothe `ring like memberw52. The projection 53` is designed tofit withinY a corresponding recess within the` operating member` C.

direction, the end 54 ofthe ring like member will slide along one of thesurfaces 50 until it reaches the shoulder 5| whereupon it will bedropped into `engagement with 4the next.` and succeeding` surface. As'itdrops it will make alight clicking noiseindi`cating the extent `to whichthe operating member has been turned, and since there are foursurfacesf'50 of equal lengthvthe point at which the end` 54 of member 52disengages with each shoulder 5l will mark a quarter of a turn of theshaft 29. The screwthreading Iof, this shaft is so related to, theratchet construction that a quarter of a turn willprovide the ejectionof enough paste or `material contained within the container for thepurpose required, for instance for loading a toothbrush.

It will be noted `that the -lower end of the rod 29l is formed with `asquare face 55 which engages with a corresponding recess in the bushing41, thus the rod will bepositively rotated` in accordance with vthemovement of' the operating member C.A `Similarly the upper end of therod `29 `may be formed square or of any suitable cross section, .itbeing restricted in width as indicated at 59 relatively to the crosssectional width of the rod so that when theejector has been moved to itsupward extremity,V the screwthreaded bore will be positioned oppositeftothey plain reduced end portion, so that theV rod 29 upon furtherrotationwill justturn idly and the lejector will not be forced upwardlyany further. It wouldother- `wise tend tomdam the operating parts of thede .vice and possibly injure the operating structure.

' The operatingmember C, it will be noted, Vtakes `the form of arotatable member somewhat in the shape of a propeller bladehaving ineffect an arm projecting on each side of the axis of the rod 29 beingformed with the gradually sloped surfaces 51 andthe acutelyslopedsurfaces 58. or

`in other words surfaces at an acute angle to the in an anti-clockwisedirection, `since the thumb would merely slipover the gradually slopingsur- Thus the construction of the "operating member C is such as toprovide means forrotating the shaft 29 in one direction only. It isapparent therefore that once a rell is'positioned` within theycontainerready for use, the dispenser will' operate eiliciently andisfproof againstV improper opera- -face 51 without moving the operatingmember C.` i.

tion, which might cause injury to the working parts. The container wallmay be slotted as at 59 adjacent its upper end to provide an indicatingorifice which will clearlyshow when the container is about empty.

An outstanding feature of the invention resides in the provision of astructure capable of being held and operated by vone hand of the user.The

container is grasped by the fingers or dig-its of` one hand,v as shown-in Figure 9, and the operating memberC is rotated by theethumb or adigit of the same hand. In this connection it will be noted that thebase 39 is-shown recessed or dished as at 39a, the operating memberbeing-of a depth not greater than the recessed or dished portion, "thelatter gradually curving and terminating in a defining wall 39h. Thedished or'recessed base serves two purposes;

. stand upright without `the operating member con' tacting withr thesupport onwhicfh it has' been easy operation of the latter.

projecting stepped portion or fiange construction placed and thegradually curved contour and defining wall 39h form afguide for-thethumb or `digit of the operator during therotation of the operatingmember, providing for the smooth and In addition, the

39C of the base provides a ready means for the digits of the operatinghand to grasp and hold the container during operation'. i v

Having regard' tothe foregoing. it will be apparentA that I haveyprovided av type lof structure which may be manufactured very readily,since the main parts may be moulded throughout and require verylittleassembling Awork other than the positioning of the operating member inro- -tational engagement with Vthe base.A The container may be made ofalight vand durable construction, and the refill with its carriedprojecting parts may be manufactured very easily and very cheaply, sothat the complete construction can be marketed in quantities at acomparatively low cost. i

` The refill provides avery handy means for the marketing of quantitiesof the material used and as the refill is discarded after use and theconc vention without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope ofthe claims, and therefore the exact forms shown are to be taken asillustrative only and not in a limiting sense, and it is desired thatonly such limitations shall be placed thereon as are disclosed in theprior art or are set forth in the accompanying claims` What I claim asmy invention is:

1. A dispenser comprising an elongated container having'a restricteddispensing opening at its upper end, 'a refill cartridge adapted to twithin the container and a base at the opposite vend of thecontainer,means for retaining the refill cartridge against movement within thecontainer, said rell cartridge being formed with a closed end having acentrally located opening therein, the end of` said refill cartridgeabutting the interior surface of the upper end of the con- It permitsthe container to .threaded rod rand an ejector having a screw threadedborev in engagement with said rod,- said ejector being in frictionalnonrotational cngage- Y ment with said cartridge, means for retainingthe ejecting mechanism within the cartridge, means carried vby the baseof the container connecting with the end of said rod in drivingcngagement and an operating` member mounted on the base of the containerconnecting with 'said latter means for rotating said rod whereby uponrotation of said rod said ejector is caused to move upwardly ejectingmaterial through the dispens ing opening of the container. i

2. The device as claimed in claim l in which the ejector is formed witharecess in its upper surface and a final ejecting member 'projectingupwardly within the recess, said recess being designed to surround theprojecting extension, said final ejecting member designed to protrudeinto rthe dispensing opening when said ejector is moved to the upper endof the container.

3. The device as claimed in claim l in which the means forretaining therefill. cartridge against movement within the container comprises anannular projection on the base of the container having a sloped surfaceprojecting within the container and a gripping surface around theinterior surface of the lower end of the container between which saidrefill cartridge is clamped when said base is normally positioned.

4. A dispenser comprisingA an elongated container having arestricted'dispensing opening at one end and its opposite end open, arefill car tridge adapted to fit within the container having a closedend formed with a central vopening adapted to abut the end of thecontainer adjacent to the dispensing opening, said refill cartridgehaving its opposite end terminating ad: jacent to the open end of thecontainer, a base for closing the open end of the container, meanscooperating between the base of the container and said container forclamping the rell cartridge against movement when said base is in normalmounted position, said rell cartridge carrying ejecting means includinga screw threaded rod and an ejector having a screw threaded bore inengagement with said rod, saidejector being in frictional non-rotationalengagement with said cartridge, means for retaining the ejectingmechanism within the cartridge, means carriedby the base of thecontainer connecting with the end of said rod in driving engagement andan operating member mounted on the base of the'container connecting withsaid latter means for rotating said rod whereby upon rotation of saidrod said ejector is 'caused to move upwardly ejecting material throughthe'dispensing opening of the container, said operating member beingformed with at least one freely exposed arm at least one surface of,which is at an acute angle to the base, said base being recessed toreceive said operating member, the latter being of a depth not greaterthan the depth of said recess, said operating member having at least onearm extending towards the edge of said recess, the latter having adefining wall adjacent to its edge forming a guide for a digit of theoperator during rotation of said operating member whereby the latter maybe operated by a digit of the hand holding the container to ejectmaterial through the dispensing opening.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4 in which` the operating member isformed with two surfaces, the surface at an acute angle to the basebeing engageable by the digit of the operator to effect rotation of theoperating member, and an opposed gradually sloped surface over which thedigit of the operator will `slip whereby said operating member may berotated only in one direction. i

6, In a dispenser includingan elongated container having a dispensingopening at one end and a base closing the opposite end, a refillcartridge thereforcomprising an elongated shell of light semi-rigidmaterial closed at one end and open at its opposite nd, said closed endhaving a centrally disposed opening adapted to co-operate with saidcontainer, ejecting means carried within said cartridge to ejectmaterial carried therein through the central opening, said rellcartridge being provided with means to positively hold said ejectingmeans therein, including at least one projection stamped in the shell,said projection having a sloped surface to permit the insertion of saidejecting means, said sloped surface terminating in ashoulder upon `whichan edge of said ejecting means abuts.

7. In a dispenser including an elongated container having a dispensingopening at one end and a base closing the opposite end, a rell cartridgethereforcomprisingan elongated shell of l light semi-rigid materialclosed at one end and open at its opposite end, said closed end having acentrally disposed opening adapted to co-operate with said containeropening, ejecting means carried` within said cartridge to eject materialcarried therein through the central opening, said rell cartridge beingprovided with means to positively holdysaid ejecting means therein, `aportion of said shell at its open end being flared between the base andthe container for clamping therebetween to hold said shell againstmovement.

8. A dispenser comprising an elongated container having a restricteddispensing opening at its upper end, a rell cartridge adapted to tvwithin the container, ejecting means including a movable ejectorpositioned within the refill and container, a base at the lower end `ofthe container and operating means mounted on the base for operating theejecting means, the upper end of the container having an interiorsurface gradually narrowing towards the dispensing opening, an annularmember surrounding the dispensing opening and projecting within thecontainer from itsupper end, said member gradually narrowing towards itslower end and having an exterior surface following the contour oi theupper end of the container, one end of said rell cartridge having acontour coinciding `with the upper end of said container. being designedto abut the latter and formed with an opening adapted to register withthe dispensing opening, said annular member projecting through theopening in the refill cartridge, the interior surface of said end of therefill cartridge and the exterior surface of said annular member forminga guide to the dispensing opening for material carried within saidcartridge, said ejector having a recess to co-operate with said annularprojecting member, the defining walls of said recess cooperating withsaid graduating surface of the refill and extension to ejectsubstantially all material from the refill.

9. In and for a dispenser, a. refill cartridge comprising an elongatedilexible tubular shell designed to carry material to be dispensed, saidmember having a restricted end formed with an opening therein, said endgradually narrowing towards said opening, the opposite end being openand flared outwardly, and having a series of inwardly directedprojections stamped in the shell and a series of outwardly directedprojections circumferentially spaced around the shell adjacent t0 theopen end.

l0. In and for a dispenser. an elongated hollow shell having exiblewalls designed to carry material to be dispensed, said shell beingrestricted at one end and provided with an opening therein, said endgradually narrowing towards said opening, the opposite end of said shellbeing open. a closure member for the open end in the form of an ejectorpositioned within the shell, said ejector being rigid in constructionand disposed in pressure engagement with the flexible walls of theshell, said walls being formed with a projection extending within theshell, said projection having a sloped surface to permit insertion ofsaid ejector, the sloped surface terminating in a shoulder to retainsaid ejector within the shell.

11. In andfor a dispenser, a refill cartridge comprising an elongatedflexible tubular shell designed to carry material to be dispensed, saidmember havinga restricted end formed with an opening therein, said endgradually narrowing towards said opening, the opposite end being openand flared outwardly, andsaid shell having an internal laterallyprojecting portion stamped therein adjacent to and inwardly of itsflared open end.

12. In and for a dispenser, an elongated hollow shell having flexiblewalls designed to carry material to be dispensed. said shell beingrestricted at one end and provided with an opening therein, said endgradually narrowing towards said opening. the opposite end of said shellbeing open, a closure member for the open end in the form oi an ejectorpositioned within the shell, said ejector being rigid in constructionand disposed in pressure engagement with the `flexible walls of theshell, said walls being formed with Aa projection extending laterallywithin the shell inwardly of its open end into the path of the ejectorwhereby to retain said ejector within the shell.

GARNET ADAM MAGUIRE.

